Hip-Hop Vinyl New Releases - News

- Vinyl only release - limited quantities pressed
- Part of The Content Label 7-Inch series
- 100% sample based instrumental hip-hop
- Special collectors edition vinyl
- Executive produced by Los Angeles based beatmaker Dday One
- New music from Parisian beatmaker Lex (de Kalhex)
- Recently describing Lex's third LP Satori' Kousuke Awane wrote, ....In this sense there is some similarities between him and Nujabes in trying to push boundaries of the defnition of Hip Hop by unique ways.

The Content Label presents a dynamic new split EP from Lex (de
Kalhex) and Dday One, titled Parallel Presence'. The EP's title
reveals some clues: 'parallel' refers to something similar to another, while 'presence' imagines a thing that exists but is not seen. These two producers, as kindred spirits, strive to work on this deeper level.
Parallel Presence is an expressive step forward, presenting intricate beats, thoughtful samples, and otherworldly vibes colluding towards a mesmerizing whole.
Los Angeles based producer Dday One bookends the EP with Key Signature' and Moving Force', displaying his undisputed acumen for rhythm construction and skillful arrangement. The opening track, in particular, is a beat-head's manna, featuring a serpentine bass line, staccato vocals, and heavy piano riffs, all synchronized at a headnodic tempo. Alex Besikian aka Lex (de Kalhex) is a visual artist, producer, and MC, known as the co-founder of Paris's Akromégalie Records and 1/3 of seminal French hip hop group Kalhex. His cuts Brilliant Circles' - with its night owl drum beat, tinkling electric keys, and gentle horn line - and Solstice' - featuring ringing tones, bluesy guitar riffs, velvet saxophone, and some serious rhythm play - uncannily compliment Dday One's contributions, cementing Parallel Presence' as an EP best ingested from front to back.
Visual and audio art also come together in the project's cover
design, which was a collaborative effort of the two producers. The Content Label aims to bring together distinct forms of expression, with sound, thought, and visual art combining through the imprint's releases. Parallel Presence' is just the latest evidence.

As 2015 was wrapping up, an unknown outfit called Joon Moon took the music world by surprise with its first single Chess. The four cuts on the Call Me EP, a beguiling mix of pop and soul, electronic music and jazz, melancholy and elegy, heralded a forthcoming album that was bound to leave a blast radius on landing. And while the name and vibe of the project evokes a purple veloured, oldHollywood universe, Joon Moon was borne out of a resolutely contemporary meeting of the minds - the kind the can only happen amidst our jetsetting music scene. After ten years of touring the world playing double bass with Marc Collin's Nouvelle Vague ensemble, alongside excursions into house music on the Yellow Productions Art of Disco compilations, not to mention co-producing Florent Marchet's Bamby Galaxy album, it was time for songwriter/producer/renaissance man Julien Decoret to dedicate his heart and soul to a new challenge. With Raphaël Chassin, (Hugh Coltman, Vanessa Paradis, Pauline Croze) on drums, helping out with the production and arrangements, and Sébastien Trouvé as sound engineer, Decoret set out on his retromodern Joon Moon mission, laying out the contours of a world where trip-hop, jazz, soul and electronic music live side by side, sharing their joys and sorrows. The only missing element was that one last bit of magic, a voice that could take the project to ever-loftier heights. Enter Krystle Warren. She had worked with Rufus Wainwright, and Scritti Politti's Green Gartside, and had made forays into house music herself by providing vocals to two cuts off Hercules and Love Affair's, The Feast of the Broken Heart. That's not even mentioning her own band, Krystle Warren and The Faculty - and its three albums - which display her impressive grasp of soul music, folk, blues... Joon Moon's first album Moonshine Corner, which stole part of its name from an Austin watering hole that had become a haunt during its first American mini-tour, is the sound of four people meeting at an unlikely crossroads named Melancholy. Recorded using modern studio techniques along with vintage 60s and 70s instruments, Moonshine Corner places its chips on a subtly modern vibe through twelve lovelorn tracks that weave themselves around pop and trip hop, folk and soul, jazz licks and electronic washes, digging their own groove in the river bed dug by years and years of exposure to Radiohead, Neil Young, and Zero 7. Joon Moon is also, lest we forget, a project that takes on its full magnitude on stage. The barebones live setup (drums, piano) allows Krystle's powerful voice to fill the space, swaying from nervy to more subdued laments, hopping around tessitura in the blink of an eye. Consider the live french version of Radiohead's I Might Be Wrong, which transports you to the fictional smoky jazz club where forgotten, old 50s star Joon Moon holds court behind the microphone.

In 2017, the musical term electronic' is nearly obsolete given the ubiquity of computerized processes in producing music. Even so, the prevailing assumption is that musicians working under this broad umbrella must be inspired by concepts equally as electrified as their equipment. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith has demonstrated in her still-blooming discography that this notion couldn't be further from the truth, and that more often than not, rich worlds of synthesized
sound are born from deep reverence of the natural world. Smith (who by no coincidence, cites naturalist David Attenborough as a contemporary muse) has embodied such an appreciation on
The Kid in as direct and sincere a way as possible by sonically charting the phases of life itself.
The album, which punctually follows up her 2016 breakthrough EARS, chronicles four defining cognitive and emotional stages of the human lifespan across four sides of a double LP.
The first side takes us through the confused astonishment of a newborn, unaware of itself, existing in an unwitting nirvana. Smith's music has always woven a youthful thread befitting of the
aforementioned subject. Here she articulates it in signature fashion on the track An Intention,' which serves not only as a soaring spire on The Kid, but on her entire output. There is playfulness here, but it's elevated by an undertone of gravity into something compelling and majestic that is fast becoming Smith's watermark. The emotional focus of side two is the vital but underreported moment in early youth when we cross the threshold into self awareness. The subject is profound enough to fill an entire album, but rarely makes its way into a single track, indicating Smith's ambition to broach subtler and deeper subjects than the average composer. This side offers up another highlight in the form of In The World But Not Of The World' which serves its subject well with epiphanic, climbing strings and decidedly noisy textures over a near-Bollywood low end pulse.

Side three emphasizes a feeling of being confirmed enough in one's own identity to begin giving back to the formative forces of one's upbringing, which is arguably the duty that all great artists
aim to fulfill. This side ends with the exploratory album cut Who I Am & Why I Am Where I Am' recorded in a single take without overdubs on the rare EMS Synthi 100 synthesizer. This humble
piece of sound design serves as a contrast to side four's verdant orchestral moments, all written and arranged for the EU-based Stargaze quartet by Smith herself. This final side represents a
return to pure being, the kind of wisdom and peace that eludes most of us until the autumn of life. On To Feel Your Best' this concept is voiced in the bittersweet refrain one day I'll wake up
and you won't be there' which Smith intended to be a grateful acknowledgement of life rather than a melancholy resentment of loss. The song has both effects depending on the mood of the
listener, and both interpretations are equally moving.
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith belongs to an ilk of modern musicians who are defined by their commitment to creating experiential albums despite the singles-oriented habits of modern listeners,
and here she represents her kind proudly. The subjects on The Kid are not simple to convey, and yet through both emotional tone and lyrical content, Smith does just that. There is a similar
gravity to both birth and death, and rarely is that correlation as accurately and enthusiastically mapped as it is here.

Alan Watts, another logical inspiration of Smith's, once expounded that people record themselves to confirm their own existence, and as such, echoes and resonance are reminders that we are alive. You're not there unless you're recorded,' Watts muses, if you shout, and it doesn't come back and echo, it didn't happen.' The Kid speaks to this idea directly. As Kaitlyn Aurelia
Smith explores her existence through music, she guides us in gleefully contemplating our own.

- 180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL
- INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED SLEEVES
- FIRST PRESSING OF 750 COPIES
PRESSED ON ORANGE VINYL

Arguably the finest Jamaican soul singer of his generation, Ken Boothe burst onto the international stage when his sublime rendering of Bread's melancholic Everything I Own topped the UK charts in the autumn of 1974.

Within months of this success, the native-born Kingstonian returned to the national listings with the captivating Crying Over You', which made number 11 later that year.

To coincide with the release of the latter, Trojan Records released the album, Everything I Own, a supremely soulful collection that featured his two international hits alongside a number of sublimely produced songs, cut in both Jamaica and the UK.

Unavailable on vinyl since '74, this essential LP is now available on the format for which it was created, with the use of the original analogue masters and artwork ensuing complete authenticity.

A must for all Ken Boothe fans and those who like their reggae sweet and soulful.

Kutmah (pronounced koot/mah) releases his long overdue debut album 'The Revenge Of Black Belly Button!' (or TROBBB!) via Big Dada. The record features an incredible cast of guests - Gonjasufi, Jonwayne, Natureboy Flako, Ta'Raach, Jeremiah Jae,
Zeroh, Zackey Force Funk, N8NOFACE, Sach, Akello G Light and DJ Chris P Cuts - spanning experimental meditative, Zennist loops, crackly oddball beats and abstract raps, as far as outright punk / noise and even folk / blues.

For fans of Flying Lotus, Knxwledge, Dabrye, Jonwayne.

I'm so glad the world finally gets to hear the debut album of one of the most influential DJs of the beat movement.' - Flying Lotus

2LP pressed on heavyweight 180g black vinyl in artworked innersleeves housed in a 5mm spined outer sleeve. Includes five vinyl-only bonus tracks and digital download code.

Photography by Kutmah. Artwork by Brandy Flower.

As a DJ / curator, Kutmah has tirelessly searched for and championed new underground talent from across the globe. His passion, hunger and most importantly, his incredible ear for new music have made him Flying Lotus' go-to warm-up DJ.

He founded his own IZWID label in 2013. In 2004 he co-founded the now legendary Sketchbook Sessions at Little Temple alongside Take, Eric Coleman (Mochilla) and DJ Nobody (Low End Theory). It was LA's first instrumental beats and art night and it paved the way for the city's inimitable musical renaissance.

After attending college and getting deeper into computer music, Sam Obey began releasing music as Obey City. The project quickly took off with EPs for LuckyMe, forming the Astro Nautico label with his best friends, multiple tours and collaborating with Kelela and Flatbush Zombies. Now, as Sam O.B., he returns to what his oldest confidants know he's always had up his sleeve: his voice and his bass guitar.

'Positive Noise', the debut album by Sam O.B., is not a 'journey of a record' but it's also not Party Time USA. It's nuance, cloud patterns, like good progressive jazz. Like the refinement of refinement, the elegance of elegance. Sound propelled by its own smoothness. A coolness that isn't cold. The earnestness of an old friend. Expanse. Experimentation. Actual warmth.

Sam O.B. is (and has always been) a man of classics. When you hear the sax on 'Salt Water' you'll understand this ambition with precision. Arpeggiated horn delay and female 'oohs' fall like geodesic rain. The blasting synth leads on 'Midnight Blue' and 'Nearness' waver and find their way. The sing-and-play harmonies of 'Sirens' refer to the stunning bliss of smooth jazz, which has been in Sam's arsenal of interests for longer than anyone can remember.

'Positive Noise' also has a strong anchoring in the thick pulsing rhythmic stylings of 70s and 80s disco and funk grooves. Sam is a dedicated vinyl collector, having curated DJ residencies around NYC (Hot Sounds Island, Astro Nautico, The Lot) that practically worshipped smooth jams.

LP format includes digital download card.

Das Quartett aus Mali präsentiert auf ihrem zweiten Werk zwölf Tracks, die zum Vorwerk "Music In Exile" lyrisch und klanglich noch mehr an Selbstbewusstsein gewonnen haben. Mit Elementen aus Blues, Rock, R&B, Soul und Hip Hop erschafft die Band um Sänger Aliou Touré einen ganz eigenen Sound, der schon Nick Zinner, Julian Casablancas, Damon Albarn und zuletzt auch Iggy Pop begeistert hat. Letzterer ist auch auf dem neuen Album "Résistance" als Gastsänger zu hören.

A multi-faceted performer and songwriter, Taz straddles both the hip hop world and dancehall/reggae arena. He first came to the world's attention performing alongside Dizzee Rascal on their Just a Rascal video, having co-written it and earning himself an Ivor Novello Award into the bargain. After becoming the youngest rap artist to be signed to Def Jam UK in 2004, Taz released his massively acclaimed Analyse This album and has never looked back. After teaming up with Jamaica's Jazzy Kitt Music Group, Taz released Up Deh which was immediately snapped up by Ramrock Records for UK vinyl release. Already getting BIG props on Jamaican radio stations, an exclusive on Ras Kwame's Capital Xtra show, signal from Original Memzee and Pyro Radio, Up Deh is set to mash up the dance worldwide - trust me!

CAMAR FLAVA - 'GET UP BACK'
Seasoned reggae artist Camar Flava has been long established on the international music scene as a prolific performer and songwriter, recording and producing hits such as Whine and Twist, It's You, Your Body Is

The duo of Atlanta-via-Michigan emcee Willie The Kid and Harlem based producer VDon have been frequent collaborators for some time now, releasing a number of records together including Friends & Money', The Food', Marina', Seafoam', Standtall'.
VDon & Willie The Kid decided to join forces once again and went back to the lab to bring you Deutsche Marks, their first joint full-length project. With features from rappers Smoke Dza,
Meyhem Lauren & Roc Marciano, this ten (10) track LP from Willie The Kid & VDon is classic Hip-Hop from start to finish.
Willie notably appeared on both DJ Drama albums Gangsta Grillz: The Album and Gangsta Grillz: The Album (Vol. 2) as well as Lil Wayne's Dedication 2 and Dedication 3 mixtapes. He is the
younger brother of Wu-Tang Clan affiliate La the Darkman. He released his debut album, Absolute Greatness, in September 2008, and has steadily dropped project after project including
The Fly (1, 2 and 3), The Living Daylights with Bronze Nazereth, and The BrainFly with Naledge.
As the son of a Harlem DJ, VDon was destined to make his mark on music, and has amassed an impressive catalog, including handling production for the likes of Smoke DZA, Vado, Trae the
Truth, Lloyd Banks, Styles P, Wu Block, Jadakiss, A$ap Rocky and 2 Chainz.
Following the release of their first single off of Deutsche Marks, 24 Hours' featuring Roc Marciano, Willie & VDon also released a music video for Bleacher Report'.

The rising French digger of all things soul, funk, boogie and disco delivers four tried and tested edits from his personal stash of deepness for the next Collector's Cuts release.

Some of these cuts have already raised eyebrows and now with a proper release these should find their way onto a few more dance floors.

Charlie Ahearn's 1983 film Wild Style holds a place in both music and cinematic history as one of the first examples of a hip-hop film. Since its original release it has been widely praised for its hybrid approach as both a narrative musical and a documentary, and as a time capsule of sorts into the culture of hip-hop during its
infancy in the 1980s. Besides its classic depictions of MCing, turntablism, graffiti, and breakdancing, the film also featured now legendary figures of the genres in acting roles, such as Grandmaster Flash, Fab Five Freddy, Busy Bee Starski, and many more. Wild Style went on to garner an immense cult following, portions of the film itself would be sampled in records by artists like Nas, Beastie Boys, MF Doom, and more, and would even be
exhibited by museums in Chicago and Boston as part of programs on the art of the 1980s. Beyond the film itself however, Wild Style's soundtrack has gone down in music history as a crucial piece of hip-hop handicraft. During a time where the sampling of
records by Queen or Kool & The Gang was commonplace
in the hip-hop scene, Ahearn took a different route in soundtracking his film, calling upon seasoned musicians like Chris Stein of Blondie and R&B session drummer Lenny Ferraro to produce an entirely original set of lyricless groove, which would be sampled into true hip-hop instrumental tracks by turntablist Grand Wizzard Theodore. The mystery and intrigue surrounding the breaks became the stuff of hip-hop legend, and a treasure
trove for crate-diggers and vinyl enthusiasts. In association with premium reissue label Get On Down, world-renowned DJ Kenny Dope, a longtime fan of the breaks that made up Wild Style's soundtrack, re-edited the tracks into full-length cuts in 2014. KayDee now presents the singles individually for the first time ever. Each 7" is a piece of hip-hop history, as some of the most
highly regarded and sought-after instrumental beats of all
time, from one of the most important music films of all time.

Charlie Ahearn's 1983 film Wild Style holds a place in both music and cinematic history as one of the first examples of a hip-hop film. Since its original release it has been widely praised for its hybrid approach as both a narrative musical and a documentary, and as a time capsule of sorts into the culture of hip-hop during its
infancy in the 1980s. Besides its classic depictions of MCing, turntablism, graffiti, and breakdancing, the film also featured now legendary figures of the genres in acting roles, such as Grandmaster Flash, Fab Five Freddy, Busy Bee Starski, and many more. Wild Style went on to garner an immense cult following, portions of the film itself would be sampled in records by artists like Nas, Beastie Boys, MF Doom, and more, and would even be
exhibited by museums in Chicago and Boston as part of programs on the art of the 1980s. Beyond the film itself however, Wild Style's soundtrack has gone down in music history as a crucial piece of hip-hop handicraft. During a time where the sampling of
records by Queen or Kool & The Gang was commonplace
in the hip-hop scene, Ahearn took a different route in soundtracking his film, calling upon seasoned musicians
like Chris Stein of Blondie and R&B session drummer Lenny Ferraro to produce an entirely original set of lyricless groove, which would be sampled into true hip-hop instrumental tracks by turntablist Grand Wizzard Theodore. The mystery and intrigue surrounding the breaks became the stuff of hip-hop legend, and a treasure trove for crate-diggers and vinyl enthusiasts.
In association with premium reissue label Get On Down,
world-renowned DJ Kenny Dope, a longtime fan of the breaks that made up Wild Style's soundtrack, re-edited the tracks into full-length cuts in 2014. KayDee now presents the singles individually for the first time ever. Each 7" is a piece of hip-hop history, as some of the most highly regarded and sought-after instrumental beats of all time, from one of the most important music films of all time.

High Focus label-head Fliptrix returns to the essence of Hip Hop with a confident boom bap album, Patterns Of Escapism, his 6th LP entirely produced by the highly regarded Illinformed.

From building a platform for the scene's most creative figures, earning a cult following to being an instrumental hand in the careers of rising stars The Four Owls, Ocean WIsdom and Dirty Dike—Fliptrix brings all the commitment and passion to his music that you would expect from a man fully dedicated to the scene and his imprint, nominated for best small label at the AIM Awards in 2015.

Devoted to the growth of High Focus, which has soon become one of the most prominent Hip Hop labels in Europe, Fliptrix has successfully gathered around him a diverse and dynamic roster, which included household name Rag N Bone Man. He built a YouTube channel boasting over 61 million views, launched an ongoing international tour where he regularly performs in front of thousands, whilst handling multiple album releases. The MC went on to getting a No.1 album on the iTunes chart with The Four Owls, with whom he collaborated with Hip Hop legend DJ Premier.

Featuring some of the scene's most prominent artists such as Ocean Wisdom, King Kashmere, Life MC, Verb T, Dabbla, Jazz T & DJ Sammy B-Side and Fliptrix' own group The Four Owls, the LP showcases the very best of the label's roster and works as testament to both Fliptrix' involvement in the scene and the recognition he's earned throughout the years. Sharp performances flow across the album, a body of work defined by thought-provoking lyrics and introspective narratives. Always witty in its bars and clever with its words, Fliptrix' Patterns Of Escapism proves why real Hip Hop is here to stay. Carefully crafted over the last 3 years with it roots deeply engrained in the true sound of the genre Fliptrix & Illinformed have created something truly timeless with their musical styles seemingly made for one another.

As Fliptrix explains:

The music I make is all about the depths of self-exploration and the heights of human consciousness. Even though the world can be ugly, I try to bring positive vibes. Everyone in this world seems to want to escape their reality in some way or form and there are various means both positive and negative in which this can be done. 'Patterns Of Escapism' explores the correlations between these and takes the listener in to an immersive journey though my mind, experiences and outlook on life.'

In recent years, the scene has been building its path from the background, gaining more exposure through consistent releases and a dedicated fan base. Aiming to create a quality output that takes pride in its roots and tribute to the history & resilience of the genre, there's no doubt Patterns Of Escapism will cement Fliptrix's position as one of Hip Hops most passionate and engaged artists our country has to offer.

Originally released back in early 2011 by TRU THOUGHTS on CD, this album from ANTHONY MILLS and FREDDIE (RED ASTAIRE) CRUGER is now finally coming out on vinyl. Seriously dope downtempo/headz music. Includes the tracks off the out of print "DRUGS EP" 12". Out on HOMEGROWN. Out NEXT WEEK, Jan 19. HEADZ "That Wildcookie album is the best thing I've heard all year...stunning" - Daddy G (MASSIVE ATTACK)

LIMITED 300 COPIES 2014 Reissue reissue of one of the most wanted records on DIscogs and being one the most expensive items sold in Discogs Marketplace finally remastered and repressed !

Good news! music lovers, Soul searchers, and record diggers!

Los Charly's Orchestra are back!!! this time celebrating their 10th anniversary and featuring the tropical Soul legend: Omar, for their latest extravaganza of Caribbean infused Disco/Boogie.

LCO has left an important landmark on the global Soulful Disco - Jazz Funk landscape since the very beginning, and their tireless production machine still continues today to deliver some of the most epic groovers, such as: "All Around The World, Everlasting Love & Sunshine", in between many others.

Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel (the two men behind this project), continue on their endless effort for producing enduring music by delivering their latest EP which contains an LCO's Re-make treatment of Omar's classic: "It's So" plus a brand new Boogie-Reggaeish fusion track entitled: "History", both tracks with their correspondent instrumentals for the delight of the vinyl junkie, and groove music aficionado.

You know when an artist comes along and literally rewrites the rulebook with a style that has you either shaking your head in
disbelief or losing your mind in a mosh pit You know the type, those artists who drop a debut that is swiftly regarded as a
complete classic, and subsequently ascend to the very top of the tree with unrivaled levels of talent and craftsmanship, topped
off with what appears to be consummate ease
Artists of this calibre are rare (which is a shame but also totally understandable), that's why they're so enigmatic, but also so
celebrated when they decide to nally surface. Long story short, Ocean Wisdom is one of those artists and 'Chaos 93' is one of
those albums.
Anthems 'Splittin' The Racket' and 'Snakes & Blaggers' swiftly followed suit and acted to only reafrm what most suspected (or
already knew), that Ocean Wisdom is destined for HUGE THINGS. There is something truly infectious about the way in which
Wizzy goes through the gears before delivering lung busting, almost triple-time lyrics. The thing that separates Ocean from his
other 'quick-tongued' counterparts is the fact that lyrical content and subject matter never pay the price when he decides that it's
time to speed things up.
Production wise, Ocean has found a strong ally in rap rogue Dirty Dike who expertly crafted the entire LP. The freedom of Dike's
no-nonsense, thump and sample production acts as the perfect terrain for Ocean to go to work. At 17 tracks, it's safe to say that
'Chaos 93' is more than just a chapter for the young emcee. Even though the LP marks the very start of his musical journey, it
feels very much like his 'opus' already (just check the cover). Add a stellar roster of features to the mix including Foreign
Beggars, Klashnekoff, Lunar C, Remus and High Focus label mates The Four Owls, Dirty Dike, Jam Baxter & Edward
Scissortongue and (as we mentioned previously) 'Chaos 93' has all the makings of a truly classic release for 2016 and beyond.
This limited edition solid GOLD double vinyl LP comes shrink wrapped with full colour reverse board sleeve with gold foil print
details on front and back cover. Limited to 1000 copies.

You know when an artist comes along and literally rewrites the rulebook with a style that has you either shaking your head in
disbelief or losing your mind in a mosh pit You know the type, those artists who drop a debut that is swiftly regarded as a
complete classic, and subsequently ascend to the very top of the tree with unrivaled levels of talent and craftsmanship, topped
off with what appears to be consummate ease
Artists of this calibre are rare (which is a shame but also totally understandable), that's why they're so enigmatic, but also so
celebrated when they decide to nally surface. Long story short, Ocean Wisdom is one of those artists and 'Chaos 93' is one of
those albums.
Anthems 'Splittin' The Racket' and 'Snakes & Blaggers' swiftly followed suit and acted to only reafrm what most suspected (or
already knew), that Ocean Wisdom is destined for HUGE THINGS. There is something truly infectious about the way in which
Wizzy goes through the gears before delivering lung busting, almost triple-time lyrics. The thing that separates Ocean from his
other 'quick-tongued' counterparts is the fact that lyrical content and subject matter never pay the price when he decides that it's
time to speed things up.
Production wise, Ocean has found a strong ally in rap rogue Dirty Dike who expertly crafted the entire LP. The freedom of Dike's
no-nonsense, thump and sample production acts as the perfect terrain for Ocean to go to work. At 17 tracks, it's safe to say that
'Chaos 93' is more than just a chapter for the young emcee. Even though the LP marks the very start of his musical journey, it
feels very much like his 'opus' already (just check the cover). Add a stellar roster of features to the mix including Foreign
Beggars, Klashnekoff, Lunar C, Remus and High Focus label mates The Four Owls, Dirty Dike, Jam Baxter & Edward
Scissortongue and (as we mentioned previously) 'Chaos 93' has all the makings of a truly classic release for 2016 and beyond.

Mexico City's SHIRO SCHWARZ makes their vinyl debut. Some of the best writing in Modern Funk with lyrics by the duo of PAMMELA & RAFAEL. "DON'T ASK WHY" is spaced out booty juice from the duo of Mrs. BUTTERSWORTH. And last, "MOVE YOUR BODY" captures us with divine dance floor rhythms & synths.

Stanton Moore ist Gründer und Schlagzeuger von Galactic, einer Funk Band aus New Orleans, die bereits seit drei Dekaden aktiv ist. "With You In Mind" ist eine Homage an Allen Toussaint, dem legendären Produzenten/Songwriter/Arranger aus New Orleans. "With You In Mind" ist ein Mix aus Funk und Jazz und wartet mit folgenden Gästen auf: Cyril Neville, Jolynda Kiki Chapman, Nicholas Payton, Donald Harrison, Trombone Shorty, Maceo Parker und Wendell Pierce. Moore wird zur Unterstützung der Veröffentlichung in Europa und Amerika auf Tour gehen.

- LP: schwarzes 180g Vinyl inkl. Download Card

Recorded last year, "Power Of Peace" is a musical collaboration connecting The Isley Brothers & Santana on a musical journey through some of the immortal soul, funk, blues, jazz, rock & pop songs that continue to influence & inspire them. The album is produced & arranged by Carlos Santana, with Ronald Isley on lead vocals. A 12 track CD & double vinyl formats. Press ads, features & reviews.

Recorded last year, "Power Of Peace" is a musical collaboration connecting The Isley Brothers & Santana on a musical journey through some of the immortal soul, funk, blues, jazz, rock & pop songs that continue to influence & inspire them. The album is produced & arranged by Carlos Santana, with Ronald Isley on lead vocals. A 12 track CD & double vinyl formats. Press ads, features & reviews.

Tracing the musical heritage of the Caribbean, Zara McFarlane explores her interconnected vision of the diaspora.

On Arise , Zara McFarlane returns to a buoyant UK jazz scene with a head-turning third album. Exploring the musical possibilities of British-Jamaican identity, it's a cultural exchange that's born of London's current musical climate. Released on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Recordings, it sees her working with much-feted drummer and producer Moses Boyd. Both rose through London's Tomorrow's Warriors programme, a finishing school for many young vanguards of the live, ascendant jazz scene springing up across the UK capital. Sharing Caribbean family heritages, it's a product of their joint exploration of the meeting points between jazz and the rhythms of Jamaica, reggae, Kumina, calypso and nyabinghi, shaded with hints of the psychedelic.

Zara's breakthrough 2012 track, a jazz cover of Junior Murvin's 'Police and Thieves', provided a jumping off point to further explore the blurred, colourful territory in between jazz and roots-reggae. Covering Nora Dean's 'Peace Begins Within', she breathes a syncopated groove into a soulful, reggae classic. A beautifully poised version of the Congos' Fisherman teases out the poignant lyrical content of the 1977 classic. Meanwhile new, original compositions from Zara, like 'Fussin' and Fightin'' and 'Freedom Chain', combine a deep, reverberating bass with a steady-stepping roots rhythm. Album opener 'Ode To Kumina' touches on the kumina tradition brought to Jamaica by indentured labourers from The Congo in the later part of the 19th Century. Part of Zara's deeper research into her Caribbean heritage, it alludes to a deep-rooted culture encompassing music, dance and religion.

Similarly, 'Silhouette' arose from that same research, in this case, however, it was about how records and documents often get lost in Jamaica. It kind of came out of the idea of black history and blackness and feeling like you're trying to find yourself,' she explains. Trying to be proud of your history and who you are. And never forgetting the things that brought you to where you are.' Alongside drummer Moses Boyd on production, the album features a stellar line up of some of the key players on the London scene Binker Golding on tenor sax, Peter Edwards on piano, Shirley Tetteh on guitar, Nathaniel Cross on Trombone and an unusually restrained turn on Clarinet from Shabaka Hutchings.
Shared between all of them is a tendency to find the common points between different musical ilks: from US hard bop jazz, to dub and London-rooted hybrids and permutations, the band on Arise reflect the musical diversity of their home. Boosted by new platforms, like East London showcase Church of Sound and a newly-refreshed Jazz Café, the record surfs the momentum currently propelling jazz-influenced music in the UK.

For Zara, Jamaica's musical legacy is deeply intertwined with her sense of the place itself. Spending whole summers in the hills of Jamaica, it's the sounds and smells which she most vividly associates with her stays there. In particular the local sound systems which were an everyday feature of the local area, be it in shops or bars, each of the small local shacks would have a sound system where they'd play music through the day and evening.

From where my nan used to live, in Cauldwell there's a sound system almost opposite her house,' she says. So you feel this boom of the bass, and then all the smells of the hills and the greenery of Hanover. When you land in Jamaica and you go to walk off of the plane, the heat and the smells hit you and it feels like home away from home for me. When I hear Jamaican music, these are the senses that come.'

"Akua Naru comes storming back into the world with a vigorous exploration of the neo-soul canon, unveiling her feature-loaded "The Miner's Canary" LP for the heads to lap up. Though there's certainly a touch of that early 2000s soul steez deeply embedded, the album acts as a sprawling discourse in black music and history, reclaiming rock n roll, mutating the blues and keeping soul so close to heart it's almost an afterthought. Sharp, poignant lyricism spread over heady and at times raw treatments gets offset by just enough of those cool-out moments to give you some room to exhale. What's more,"The Miner's Canary" taps a legion of pioneers to help craft these luscious musical concoctions, including, but certainly not limited to Daru Jones, Cody ChesnuTT, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Christian Scott, the legendary Bernard Purdie and so many more. If this serves as an introduction to the endlessly dope styles of one Akua Naru, then jump back and peep the soulful styles."

Jamaican Soul special.. alter ego of reggae star Winston Francis..info soon! Released on Japan's Rock A Shacka. TIP!

Jamaican Soul special.. alter ego of reggae star Winston Francis.. Released on Japan's Rock A Shacka. TIP!

With the release of the movie "Saturday Night Fever" and the soundtrack album of the same name featuring the Bee Gees in 1978, Discomania was sweeping across the nation. And in the Midwest, nearly every nightclub, bar, and bowling alley changed musical formats, quit using live entertainment, and spent millions of dollars remodeling every beer hall, hotel lounge, and VFW in the Twin Cities into a "Disco", all attempting to cash in on a fad that would ultimately only last not even two years.

For the next couple of years, Gangbusters brought disco music to the masses. Their original all disco show "Sunday Morning Fever (Where Did the Disco)" featured a tribute to Donna Summer, a medley of the greatest hits from the Bee Gees including their early music from the sixties, the best (and worst) of the Village People, and a "Dance Fever" style disco dance competition. Gangbusters survived and thrived during the disco years by playing disco music better than any other band in town.

Check out the predecessor of Gangbusters called Spangle which is featured on Tramp's "Countdown to... Soul" (TR-9067) compilation album.

It's time for another 7" foot-stomping bonanza from Rocafort Records, digging deep into the rich New Orleans repertoire of the Carbo family. All brothers were heavily involved in the 60s Crescent City funk scene, so tight and 'on the one' that it's easy to understand why Hank suspects a bit of plagiarism from the Godfather himself.

"Fox in a mini skirt" is slice of soulful cheek and attitude, based on foxy beauty who once slunk across the dance floor at one of his gigs. Popular on the Northern Soul scene, it matches vocal urgency with a driving beat fuelled along by manic drums, guitars and horns. The irresistible background hey hey hey's and funky funky broadway's make it instantly memorable and immediately danceable.

"Bad Luck" (not to be confused with the Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes classic) is a slower paced funk stinker, screaming out JB horns and wah wah guitars à la 'Ain't it funky now'. In keeping with the depth of New Orleans songwriting, the lyrics are worth a listen and reveal a heartfelt plea "If it weren't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all". In fact, the whole song is based on a spell of unfortunate circumstances involving Hank's sideswiped new car and an erroneous warrant for his arrest. However, the only real crime committed here is that at 2'22", this track is shockingly over too soon!

Paul Blackford returns to CPU this time donning a 7" downtempo tip. Light Years vinyl takes 2 of the highlights from the accompanying digital LP, all of which demonstrate his versatility in expressing his hip hop and funk influences from an electronic music perspective.

On first pass you might think you are listening to Nightmares on Wax, but without the heavy sampling as Blackford favours creating his sounds from scratch. Comparisons to Photek's Hidden Camera can be made in terms of atmosphere but keeping things within a slower trip hop framework.

Light Years is for chilling out, but there's a strong temptation to mix hip-hop vocals over the top due to the LP's solid instrumental foundations.

Athens of the north and Symphoncal Records are proud to present the long lost Raw Soul Express LP in a special limited Vinyl only release. Mastered personally from the original tapes with love. If you don't know what this is then you're in the wrong game, the LP also includes the Full previously unreleased version of their rare-groove and surprisingly rare club classic "The Way We Live" in its full intended format. Solid Ballads are what makes the LP for me but there is not a bad track on there, boogie, funk and Rare-groove, blink and it'll be gone.

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Reuben Bell began singing in local clubs. He first recorded for the local Murco label in 1967 before moving to the Silver Fox and House of Orange labels. In 1975 he released his first 45rpm single for Alarm Records ("Superjock" b/w "I Still Have To Say Goodbye") which was produced by Wardell Quezergue. Neither side made any noise back then but 24 years later "Superjock" was included in DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist's Brainfreeze mix.

Since then it has become a classic and it has been played constantly by hip hop and funk djs all around the world. It has appeared on a handful of (mainly bootleg) compilations over the years so we are proud to present the long-overdue, fully licensed re-issue on its original format.

You may check out Tramp's "Countdown to... Soul" (TR-9067) compilation which contains "Superjock" as well as some other fine Rare Grooves.

For decades, if you wanted to listen to great music all you needed to do was stare at a screen! TV and film soundtracks were often the work of US legends such as Lalo Schiffrin, Oliver Nelson & Quincy Jones, and their Uk counterparts Ronnie Hazelhurst and Alan Hawkshaw, provided the soundtrack to the 60's & 70's at a time when film and TV music was unashamedly funky and featured the ensemble of choice for the jazz arranger.. the big band!

A 21st century musician with comparable skills is Andy Tolman - an astounding bass player, but also highly adept at writing & arranging for a big band and who is heavily influenced by those greatest practitioners of the art. Andy met to Nick van Gelder (the original Jamiroquai drummer) and keyboard guru Carl Hudson whilst doing a run of gigs backing artists like Leon Ware and Jean Carne. Andy played Nick You What! and he asked if he could lay a drum track down and at around the same time Carl offered his services on the record also. Nick went on to drum on the entire album and produce the recordings too.

At the tail end of 2011, when Freestyle Records A&R man Greg Boramans' compilation 'Sounds From The Soul Underground' was released the glorious noise of The Andy Tolman Cartel first came to public attention. The amazing track You What! had one foot in jazz-funk & the other in film & TV themes of the 60's and 70's, found champions in Jazz FM's Peter Young and BBC 6 Musics Craig Charles who both featured it on their radio shows heavily.

Andy himself takes up the story, "After You What! found it's way onto Gregs' compilation he asked me how many more tracks I had, I kind of lied (sorry Greg!) and said a whole albums worth. Having shot my mouth off I thought I had better set about delivering... a daunting prospect, and a promise I probably wouldn't have made had I been sober at the time. So I called upon the services of some of the amazing musicians I have worked with over the past few years. Move Over was the first song I heard Jo Harman sing and Stevie Watts award winning Hammond organ playing seemed like a natural fit too"

'Cypher' is indeed the perfect example of a natural fit of like minded musicians and their natural talents and the delightfully natural sound of a big band cutting loose that has not been heard for a long time making a welcome and long overdue return.

It has been eleven long years since Urbs dropped his last album
which was called 'Toujours Le Meme Film'. Back then, the musician,
DJ and producer created the soundtrack to a fictitious Film Noir,
which was released on Kruder & Dorfmeister's G-Stone Label, but
after touring Europe he almost completely retreated from public life.
He does not consider his creativity as being his career, but rather as a
part of his life which rarely is subject to concrete planning, and that is
why Urbs quite consciously took his time to create his latest -untitledalbum.
Urbs: 'A lot of people totally appreciated my last album 'Toujours Le Meme
Film', and over the years I've learned that it really means a lot to some of
them. Which was a burden, because, obviously, you do not want to
disappoint these people. By now, I think enough water went down Danube
river to perhaps surprise some of them with something completely new.
Those who know me know that I've always simply produced dope hip hop
tracks.'
This time, as a consequence, this is no all instrumental album but a
collection of 12 soulful hip hop tunes that feature some handpicked vocalist
of the international rap, dancehall and soul scenes. On the album right next
to EMC's Wordsworth or R.A. the Rugged Man from New York, you will hear
Ward 21 from Kingston, Jamaica, Voice Monet from New Orleans, One
Self's Blu Rum 13 from Washington DC, as well as long time companions
like Skero from Vienna or Blabbwona from the group Abstract Art, who now
lives in Munich by choice.
With a wink of the eye, Urbs replies to the question what it felt like recording
an album together with vocalists after having released several instrumental
albums: 'Generally speaking, letting go of the songs and surrendering
myself to the MCs gave me a hard time. You spend a lot of time with a song
and build a certain kind of relationship. The music creates pictures in your
mind and often its meaning is hard to grasp for the producer. And then, an
MC starts rapping over it and it is a little bit like your older brother's rude
friends turn your child's room in a mess - in your presence.'
There also is a simple answer to the question of why the album has no title:
'This album, so to say, is my competitive exhibition in this field and owing to
the endlessly long ripening process it is wonderfully and intensively boiled
down and on point. Therefore, no intros, no interludes, no title, no
gimmicks, simply 12 good songs - period.'
Besides the album, two Remix EPs will be released with re-works by
Retrogott, Brenk Sinatra, Visoneers (Marc Mac of 4 Hero), Peter Kruder,
Cookin' Soul, J*Star, Flip (Texta) and others.

It has been eleven long years since Urbs dropped his last album which was called 'Toujours Le Meme Film'. Back then, the musician, DJ and producer created the soundtrack to a fictitious Film Noir, which was released on Kruder & Dorfmeister's G-Stone Label, but after touring Europe he almost completely retreated from public life. He does not consider his creativity as being his career, but rather as a part of his life which rarely is subject to concrete planning, and that is why Urbs quite consciously took his time to create his latest -untitled- album.

From the Italian DUB duo Babe Roots comes the group's third vinyl release since their debut 7' last year on the Sardinian ROHS imprint which sold out in record time. Like the A-side's artwork suggests (a photo of the Major League Baseball pitcher Doc Ellis famous for pitching a 'no-hitter' while on LSD), this record will take the listener on a trip. In classic Babe Roots fashion, each song was carefully crafted using traditional Jamaican dub techniques, blending 90's Chain Reaction / Basic Channel atmospheres and UK trip-hop elements. Spiritual Connection / Brown Walls aims to be their strongest release yet. US-based label Visceral Vibrations teams up with Big Horn Sound (a sound system out of Las Vegas, NV) to provide a record worthy of any dub-head's collection, presented on 12' vinyl and professionally mastered by Beau Thomas at TenEightSeven.